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Towards the last two months of my last visit to India in the spring of 2012, I encountered the Tibetan community in exile in India experiencing painful news of their people self-immolating in fire one after another in China-occupied Tibet. My experiences in the past visits in India (drawing a cremation site in Varanasi, documenting fire pits, cremation alters, and contemplating on life and death around fire) synchronized with this particular movement, an extreme way of ‘offering’ their bodies to ‘fire’ for asking freedom and peace.I could not help drawing large and small drawings as emotional response and with a sense of mourning.
After coming back to Vancouver, the self-immolation kept happening and I felt that my personal and professional task is not finished.
I have come back to India to continue to document and draw under the same theme. tomoyoihaya@hotmail.com
30 November 2012
For Kunchok Kyab
29 November 2012
For Tsering Namgyal
28 November 2012
For Wangdhen Khar
For Wangdhen Khar. 21 yrs old who has self-immolated in Kanlho, Tsoe region. Monks and local Tibetans gathered at his residence in Yarki Sokdhi village to offer prayers with butter lamps.
27 November 2012
For Sangay Tashi and Kalsang Kyab
For Sangay Tashi, 18 yrs old from Sangkhog town, Sangchu region, Labrang, Amdo, and for Kalsang Kyab, 24 yrs old, from Kangtsa Town, Ngaba, Amdo. Both self-immolated in sake of liberation of their homeland and people
26 November 2012
For Wangyal, Gompo Tsering, and Konchok Tsering
For 3 young souls who gave their lives in protest
In Tso Pema( Lotus lake in tibetan)
Last night we walked around the lake for souls who set themselves on fire in the high plateau of Tibet. Many old Tibetans, some young, some monks and a few foreigners like me. We hope that you and survived ones could hear us chanting and see our lights all the way.
25 November 2012
For Sangay Dolma
For Sangay Dolma, 17 yr old nun from Dokarmo twon of Tsekhog, Malho, Amdo.
23 November 2012
For Tamding Dorjee
For Tamding Dorjee, 29 yrs old from Dokarmo town, Tsekhog region of Malho. He raised slogans for the long life of the Dalai Lama with his hand folded in prayer while engulfed in flame. Survived by his wife, Tamding Tso, their three Children and his parents.
22 November 2012
For Lubum Gyal and Tamding Kyab
A white yak and a white boat will carry you along on a clear river.
We will put offering of rice, tea, butter lamps and send prayers for your safe journey to a next life, full of light.
20 November 2012
For Tsering Dhondup
From our corpse, green grass will grow and site will become sacred pasture. You are in the golden light.
19 November 2012
For Wangchen Norbu
18 November 2012
For Tsegyue
17 November 2012
For Chagme Kyi and Sandag Tsering
A tree of ripe and bright mango for your long journey. You will have enough to fill your spirit bodies and bright mango-light will light your way.
16 November 2012
For Khabum Gyal and Tangzin Dolma
Tangzin was seen offering prayers in the village temple in the early morning and blowing a conch shell on the day of her self-immolation.
12 November 2012
For Nyingkar Tashi and Nyingchag Bum
'Six million Tibetans want freedom and independence for Tibet'
10 November 2012
For unidentified, Kalsang Jinpa, and Gampo Tsering
After your and many other souls passing in fire, thousands of students have stood up together for a peaceful protest. I hope their prayers and our candle lights are showing your paths to the next.
7 November 2012
For Tamdin Tso
For Dorjee, Samdup, and Dorgee Kyab
3 Young monks of the Ngoshul Monastery. Together they set themselves on fire in front of the local Chinese police station on November 7 2012